Environmental Action Through Eating--Saturday, July 18th, 11 a.m.

Environmental Action Through Eating: Best Bang for the Bite

Laura Stec believes that, "One of the most positive effects you can have on your environment begins on your dinner plate." The final event in the summer FOOD FOR THOUGHT series features Laura Stec, as she talks passionately about the many topics covered in her book: Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite Out of Global Warming. She will present a mini-culinary "how to class," featuring ways to move toward making food choices that benefit our bodies AND the environment. Laura is a San Francisco Bay Area chef who enjoys teaching about the artistry, health and energetics of cooking. She has 37 years combined experience in the food and environmental sectors and currently speaks and consults on ways to incorporate regionally responsible cuisine into institutional food systems, or what she calls green cuisine practices. She promotes this message throughout her many endeavors: private chef and caterer, Culinary Health Educator for Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Consulting chef with the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of CA, Acterra (a Palo Alto environmental organization) and Eco-Eaters, one of the first food & environment education programs in the U.S. She will also create a California Cheese Platter for our taste and enjoyment. This event takes place in the Program Room.

Vegetable gardening with the Master Gardeners!

Sustainable Vegetable Gardening with the Master Gardeners--Saturday, July 11th 1 p.m.

Join the Almaden Library for the next presentation in our series of events called FOOD FOR THOUGHT that focuses on eating healthier while supporting the community and the environment.

The Master Gardeners program will provide instruction and demonstration techniques as they guide us through sustainable preparation, planting and maintaining of a home vegetable garden. Come and be a part of the growing number of vegetable gardeners...there is nothing more restorative than running your hands through your own soil, planting a seedling you've grown from a seed and watching it grow through your own efforts, then harvesting it and serving it with pride to your loved ones, and knowing all the while that you are doing so in a sustainable way that is good for you and good for the earth. This event takes place in the Program Room inside the Almaden Library.

Be water wise

Check out San Jose's Environmental Services website to get some great tips on water conservation at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/water-conservation/default.asp.

Saturday, June 13th, 10:30-12--Farmers Markets

Eating Locally and Seasonally--the Whys and Hows of Farmers Markets

Join the Almaden Library for the third event in the FOOD FOR THOUGHT series that focuses on eating healthier while supporting the community and the environment. Our presenter for this event, Laurel Miller, is a food & travel writer AND a culinary educator based in the Bay Area and Colorado. Laurel grew up on a California ranch, which ignited her passion about the need to educate people about SEASONAL EATING and SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. She feels that cooking is a fun and logical way to learn about both. Visit http://www.sustainablekitchen.com/ ® to learn more.

The Sustainable Kitchen® is Laurel's independently-owned contract culinary business that offers writing services, cooking classes, and farm tours that allow students a hands-on education in harvesting and foraging ingredients before using them in on-site cooking classes. LAUREL writes a food travel column for the Oakland Tribune called "Fork in the Road," and contributes to Outside, culture, Gourmet, American Cowboy, Diablo, Napa Sonoma, and Edible Aspen. She has been featured in a number of publications and on radio and television shows including Bay Area Backroads & Evening Magazine, and is currently working on her first book, a food travel memoir.

As part of the presentation, Laurel will demonstrate a farmer's market seasonal salad.

Stroke Awareness Program, June 12th, 10 a.m.

Join the Almaden Library and Community Center and the Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County to learn about risks and warning signs that could save the life of you or someone you love. The guest speaker, Ben Parsons, will share his personal story of having suffered a stroke, which led to his passion to educate others that treatment options do exist, and many strokes can be prevented with learning how to identify risk factors and early warning signs.

Check out the winning graphic novel!

SJPL just finished up a graphic novel contest for teens, and 17 year old Jane Liu won the grand prize for her amazing story called Vitus. You can view it at our Teen Talent page: http://sjlibrary.org/gateways/teens/talent/index.htm.